Lawnswood Roundabout enters final phases

Road users are being urged to plan ahead for the final stages of the Lawnswood roundabout improvement scheme, with essential carriageway works taking place throughout August and into early September.

The major roundabout upgrade is about making our roads safer for all users – whether they be walking, cycling, driving, or using public transport. By improving crossings, reducing vehicle speeds, and introducing cycle lanes, it will help ensure Lawnswood roundabout is a place where everyone can travel easily and safely.

These final works will mean Lawnswood roundabout will be substantially complete in September.

To reach this milestone, contractors must carry out overnight carriageway preparation and resurfacing works around the roundabout and on all four approaches.

From Monday 3 August there will be overnight road closures with signed diversions in place between 7pm and 6am, Monday to Friday, for up to four weeks. The works will move around the junction in phases, with each approach affected in turn, allowing crews to prepare the road surface ahead of final resurfacing.

The final surfacing phase is scheduled to take place between 7pm and 6am, over four night-time closures, from Tuesday 1 September until Saturday 5 September, and full day/night roundabout closures from 7pm Saturday 5 September to 6am Monday 7 September. To complete the works safely, full overnight closures with diversions on all approaches to the roundabout will be needed.

The programme has been planned to avoid disruption to major events in the city, including the Ironman and Leeds Festival weekends. This means the works will take place during weekday nights rather than at weekends, where possible.

Leeds City Council and its contractors are currently finalising the construction programme, traffic management arrangements and diversion routes. Further information, including detailed diversion maps and dates for each phase, will be shared in advance of the works starting.

In the meantime, drivers are also being reminded that essential drainage works are currently taking place beneath the carriageway as part of the wider scheme.

Until Tuesday 28 July, the nearside lane is closed on the A660 southbound approach to and exit from the roundabout, as well as on the eastern side of the roundabout. These lane closures are in place 24 hours a day, seven days a week to allow the works to be completed safely and efficiently, although activity within the carriageway usually takes place during standard working hours between 9.30am and 3.30pm.

Councillor Peter Carlill, Leeds City Council’s executive member for transport and planning, said:

“We are now entering the final stages of the Lawnswood roundabout improvement scheme. I am looking forward to seeing the final scheme that will provide long-term safety benefits for people walking, wheeling, cycling, using public transport and driving through the junction.

“We fully recognise that the upcoming surfacing works will cause disruption for local communities and people travelling through the area. We would like to thank everyone for their continued patience while these essential improvements are completed.

“We are working closely with our contractors to minimise disruption wherever possible. We will provide detailed updates, including diversion routes, as soon as arrangements have been finalised.

“We would encourage anyone planning to travel through the area during August and early September to plan ahead and allow extra time for their journeys.”

The Lawnswood roundabout scheme forms part of Leeds City Council’s ongoing investment in safer and more sustainable transport infrastructure, improving connections for all road users at one of the city's busiest junctions.

Further updates will be provided on the project webpage and through Connecting Leeds social channels ahead of the overnight closures.